Vending machine



ug. 30,1927.- H'W. DA'RT VENDlNG MAGHI NE Filed' oct. 11. 1924 I 2 sheets-sheet 1 Aug. 30,1927.

1,640,396 H. w. DART l Y VENDING MACHINE Filled Oct. 1.1. 1924 "2 sheets-snee: 2

Patented Aug. 30, `1927.

imitan s'rATEs PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT W. DART, OF COLBERT, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T WILLIAM H. ZIEGLER, pJR., OF COLBERT, WAVSI-IINGrTOIN'; MILA S. DART EXECUTRIX 0F SAID HERBERT W. DART, DECEASED.

VENDING MACHINE.

Application led October 11, 1924.y Serial No. 748,086.

adapted to receive a coin, check or other con- 0 nector in the presence of which the actuating mechanism may be operated to unlock means that are normally'utilized to lock the operating mechanism of avpump. The pump mechanism may then'be operated either mepower for the delivery of a. predetermined quantity of the fluid equal to the value of thencoin or connector, as for instance a silver dollar. u

Means are also provided for automatically locking thevrelease mechanism inopen position to permit operation of the pump and for unlocking the release mechanism to permit its engagement with the pump mechanism for lockingT the latter, after each oper ation of the pump. Fraud preventing means involving the use of a permanent or fixed magnet is provided to prevent use of connectors other than the prescribed or authorized coin or connector.

The invention consists in certain novel combinations and 'arrangements of parts utilizing a Yrotary member adapted to receive a connector and movable for the purpose 'of actuating release mechanism for the pump operating means as will hereinafter be more fully pointed outrand claimed. p

In the accompanying` drawings'one como plete example of the physical embodiment of the invention is illustrated whereink the parts are combined and arranged according to the best mode so far devised for 'the practical application of the principles ofthe i invention. 17V-bile the exemplified structure is specially designed for use in dispensing gasoline and is herein referred to as adapted for that purpose, it will be understood that chanically or as herein illustrated by manualA other,y fluids may be vendedor dispensed and the action or operation of their pumps controlled. l

Figure 1 is a view in elevation, showingV a housing in section, kof the actuating andv operating mechanism employed in ,carrying out the invention, the pump mechanism being locked in inoperative position.

FigureQ is an enlarged view in perspective of the coin controlled actuating. mechf anism and the pump releasingf-mechanism, showing also a magnetic fraud preventing device.

Figure 3 is an enlarged, detail view of the connector parts showing a rotary shaft in section and a coin in operative relation thereto. Y

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of thereleasing device for use in combination with the fraud preventingdevice.

Fig. 5V is an elevation of the device with parts shown'in section. l y

In Figure 1 the head portion of a verti-l cally reciprocating pump is suiliciently illustrated to give the general arrangement 'of parts wherein a vertically reciprocable pump rod kor piston rod l1 is shown in connection with the housing 2, yan opening 3 being shown in the housing for movement 'of the pump rod. It is understood that the pump rod or piston'` rod is provided with well known means, .as a piston not shown, for lifting or elevating a column or pr'edeter;y mined quantityV of gasoline from a tank or reservoir which is dispensed through a discharge spout or hose to a second receptacle, as an automobile gas tank.` v

At its upper end the pump rod is provided with a rack bar l with which a rack wheel 5 coi-acts to elevate the bar, and the rack wheel, which is fixed on the shaft 6 journaled in the housing 2, may be turned manually by operating the crank handle 7 the exteriorpf the housing. `By turning in one direction the rack bar and ypump rod are lifted and by turning in vthe opposite direction the rack bar may be permitted to descend. The pump 95 operating mechanism is normally locked against manual actuation, but may be released and operated after aconnector, as a coin, check, or other token has been introduced for the purpose. The coin, as a silver dollar is introduced to the machine through the slot 8. in the front Wall of the housing 2 and slides by gravity down the chute 9 inside the housing to deposit the coin in operative relation to the connector mechanism oi' coin controlled actuating mechanism.

TheV actuating mechanism includes a rotary shaft 10 located in horizontal position and journaled in suitable brackets or in the Walls o-f the housing 2. A crank handle 11 attached to the shaft at the exterior of the housing furnishes manually operable means for rotating the shaft, and this crank handle is ofv sufficient Weight to normally retain the shaft in proper relation to the coin chute When the actuating mechanism is not in use. A longitudinally extending groove or pocket 12is provided in the shaft which-pocket radiates from the axis of the shaft and is of proper dimensions to properly receive the coin C, as a silver dollar. The pocket is of the required depth to receive and retain the coin but permit a portion of the coin to project radially from the shaft as the former is carried by the latter when the shaft is turned or rotated.

The shaft7 or a portion thereof is enclosed Within a coin housing or box 13 Which is fashioned with a coin receptacle 13 in its bottom wall in which the coin are deposited after the actuating mechanism is operated.

The coin slides down the inclined chute 9 and passes through a slot as 13:L in the top of the coin box, and at the underside of the top of the coin box an extension or guide plate v1st is attached, to direct the coin into the pocket of the shaft. This plate, asvseen in Figure 3 is open or has a slot therein, and the lower edge of the plate terminates adj acent to the plane of the shaft 10. A second guide plate 15 for the coin is attached to and moves with the shaft, and the plate in normal position stands parallel With the fixed guide plate 141. The guide plate 15 is also open or slotted and of a U-shape with edge ianges 16 to prevent possible rolling movement of the coin after it is deposited in the coin pocket of the shaft, and the openings in the fixed guide plate 14 and movable guide plate 15 register one with another.

These open guideplates accommodate a permanent magnet 17 supported in the housing on a bracket as 18, and the end of the magnet as seen in Figures 2 and 3 terminates adjacent to these open plates in order that the magnet may attract thereto a fraudulent check of magnetic metal and prevent its entrance into ther coin pocket of the shaft. In Figure 3 it will be seen that a coin that is attracted to the magnet Will be Withdrawn from the plane in which the pocket 12 is located and the coin7 if it strikes the shaft, Will contact therewith, say at a point 19. If the shaft is turned the actuating mechanism will not be effective, but the coin will be disengaged from the magnet by the action of a pair of spaced bracket arms 2O having end fingers 21 and carried by the shaft. lThese Y lingers and arms are carried b i the shaft at the side of the pocket opposite to that of the guide plate 15 on the shaft, and as the. shaft is rotated the arms, Which -straddle the magnet as seen in Fig. 2, will ride up under the coin, disengage it from the magnet, and carry it over the shaft, to be deposited in the coin box: The coin is loosely carried by the arms and fingers and passes through the open guide plate 15 to be deposited in the coin box.

Villien however, the proper coin as a silver dollar is deposited in thecoin pocket, this coin is used'as a connector for co-actio1iand in combination with an actuating lever22V When the shaft is turned by' handi This lever pivoted at 23 in the top of the coinV box and its lower end projects into the box through slot into the path of movement of a coin carried by the rotating shaft. rlhus Y as the lshaft is turned the coin or connector is carried with it and'inade to contact with` the lower end of the lever, as indicated byto its normal position after being swung by the coin which contacts therewith.

At its upper endtliis actuating lever has a link 26 pivotally connectedthereto at 27 to make a flexible Joint, and the link is pivoted to oscillate on a fixed fulcruui pin secured to the Wall of the housing or to a bracket therein. to permit relative longitudinal move-ment with relation to the pin 28, and a guide bracket 30 is provided at the fiexible joint 27 to guide and limit the flexing movement of the lever and its link, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure .1. A fiat spring 3. anchored tothe housing Wall orv to a'bracket therein bears against oneedge of the link 26 aboveits pivot point to hold it in normal position and to assist in returning it, thereto after flexing of the link and lever.

At the upper end of the link a pav-fl 32 is The link is slotted at 29` lill pivoted at 33, and this pawl which ispivoted.

at 34T on a fixed support isdesigned for coaction with the ratchet or rack Wheel `5 of the pump operating mechanism to normallv hold said wheel against turning.` To prevent reverse movement of the wheel the pawl carries a detent 35 pivoted thereto at 36, and a flat spring 3? carried by the pawl holds the detent in operative position. Q

It will now be apparent that, with the pawl 32 in engagement with `the wheel 5.`the wheelr cannot be gturned.: `Then the connector or coin actuates the lever 22, the latterl through the flexible connection or link 26 swings the pawl away from the rack wheel 5 to permit operation of the pump mechanism by lifting the pump rod and rack bar.

A normally open latch 38 is pivoted at to the pawl and guided in a keeper 40 fixed to the wall of the housing 2. One edge of thelatch is notched as at 4l for co-action with a fixed catch or stop 42. In normal position the latch rests upon the catch. As the pawl is swung on its pivot 34 the latch is slid across the catch until the notch 4l drops down over the catch 42, and by this means the pawl 32 is held out of engagement with the rack wheel while the wheel is being` turned to elevate the pump rod and rack bar. As the rack bar and pump rod approach or reach the limit of their upward movement, a release lug or tappet 43 carried by the rack bar within the housing contacts with the free end of the latch. By this action the latch is disconnected from its catch and the snings 25 and 3l are free to exert tension respectively on the lever 22 and link 26 to return the pawl 32 to engagement with the wheel 5, thus locking the pump operaring mechanism to prevent lifting the pump rod.

Thus one revolution of the crank 1l and its shaft l0 in coaction with the connector is suiiicient to release the pump operating mechanism which may then be operated to dispense a quantity of gasoline or other fluid equal to the value of the connector, as a silver dollar. The locking mechanism, which is held inoperative during the operation of the pump, again becomes operative by the automatic release of the latch 88.

To prevent the use of fraudulent checks, such as checks made of soft metal similar to Babbitt metal, lead etc., it will be noted that the lower free end of the lever 22 is provided with a sharpened knife edge 22. In Figure 3 it will be seen that a correct coin, as for instance a silver dollar, will be carried in position to have a contact at its rim with the free end of the lever which is suliicient to actuate the lever. A smaller coin, of course, passes under the lever end without engaging or contacting with it. A soft metal check even though of proper size when contacting with the knife-edge 22 of the lever would be cut thereby allowing the Vfraudulent check to pass under the lever without actuating the latter.

Claims: f

Al. The combination with a having" a coin-pocket and means for delivering a coin thereto, of a pivoted lever in the path of movement of the coin, a rack wheela pivoted awl for co-action with the rack wheelanc an'opp'osed pivoted detent on-faidv pawl, a pivotedflink pivotally connecting said lever and pawl,fmeans for locking-said pawl in inoperative position after actuation by said lever, a rack actuated by said rack wheel, and means on the rack for releasing said locking means.

2. The combination with a rotary shaft having a coin-pocket and means for delivering a coin thereto, of a guidelplate onfsaid shaft for retaining said coin, a pivoted, spring-pressed lever in the path of m0vement of said coin, a rack wheel a pivoted pawl and a pivoted opposed detent carried by said pawl for co-action with the rack wheel, an oscillatory spring-pressed connection between said lever' and pawl, means for retaining said pawl ininoperative position after actuation by said lever, a rack actuated by said rack wheel, and means on the rack for releasing said retaining means. v

3. The combination with a rotary coincarrying member, of a pivoted lever in the path of movement of the coin, a rack and rack wheel, a locking pawl and an opposed detent pivoted thereon for co-action with said rack wheel, an oscillatory link connection between said lever and pawl, means for locking said pawl in position when disengaged from th'ewheel, and means carried by the rack for releasing the pawl.

4. The combination with a rotary coincarrying member, of a pivoted lever for co action with a coin in said carrying member,

lan oscillatory link pivoted to said lever, re-

silient retracting means for said lever and link, a rack wheel, a pivoted pawl for c0- action with said rack wheel and pivotally connected to said link, a locking latch pivoted onr said pawl and means for releasing said latch.

5. The combination with a. pump mecha-4 nism including La rack wheel, a rack bar and a tappet on said bar, of a locking pawl adapted to engage said wheel, a latch pivoted onthe pawl and a catch there-for whereby the pawl is locked in released position, said latch located in the path of movement of said tappet for co-action in releasing the pawl from locked position, a lever, a rotary coin. carrier toretain a coin for engagement with said lever, and a link connecting said pawl and lever.

6. The combination with a rack wheel, a rack bar and a tappet on said bar, of a normally. operative locking pawl having a pivoted detent for co-action with said wheel, a latchpivoted on said pawl in the path of rotary shaftllt) movement of the tappet, a xed catch for ooaotion With the latch When the paWl is released, a lever, a rotary coin carrier to retain a coin for engagement With said lever, and a link connecting said pawl and lever.

-7. The combination with a rot-ary lcoinoarrying member, of a rack Wheel, a pivoted lever for co-action With a coin in said rotary coin-carrying member, an oscillatory link pivotecl to said lever, resilient means 'l'or retraetl0 said latch to look said pavvl in inoperative l5 position, and means for releasing` the latch. In testimony whereofl I aiiX my signature.

HERBERT W. DART.V 

